Reading FC Match Report: 2017/2018 Season - Championship

21 October 2017SHEFF UTD 2 READING 1

Post Match Fans' Opinion

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Not me, my boy who was scouting Sheff Utd for upcoming game v LUFC, (he's an RFC fan and former ST holder)

"Woeful. Men against boys. Only shining light was Swift who made a huge difference. No other positives whatsoever. Pathetic."

Rather think I trust a professional's view on the performance rather than the cr@p Stam spouts.

bobby1413

» 21 Oct 2017 18:57

It does sound bad. All I would say is that it may be worth remembering that SUFC are no push overs. 3rd in the league and promotion contenders.

Also it does seem our away form is particularly pathetic.

Either way it's not been a good couple of months!

Kitsondinho

» 21 Oct 2017 19:13

Been back a little while, the short trip home was possibly the best thing about it!
Anyway, we looked ok for the first 10 or so, a couple direct attacks (that came to nothing) and Barrow’s pace chasing long balls looked to be an outlet......then they scored. After that there was only one team in it. That was the most frustrating thing. As soon as we went 1-0 down, we never looked remotely like getting back in to the game (even at 2-1, that just papered over the cracks). An example of this is Aluko. I thought he had a decent showing, if his job was to chase down their midfielders, make tackles and hold the ball up by the corner flag (at 2-0 down). However, clearly that isn’t why we bought him. So what exactly was he meant to be doing? I could say the same sort of thing about Blackett...because he was often the furthest player forward on the left, but was then caught chasing back to defend. Equally Illori, who couldn’t decide if he was play CB or as a number 10. Gunter returned to his usual Reading self and JVdB was just thuggish in the middle of the park. For me, Vito was probably our best player....but he didn’t have masses to do and possibly could have done better with their first. That and Billy Sharp being the best player on the pitch summed today up. We look lost.

NewCorkSeth

» 21 Oct 2017 21:40

Ok. Here we go.

Much of this is obvious for the attendees and Ifollow viewers but I shall proceed none the less.

Our shape is working against us. We have too many players in our own half for too long during the games. Usually we are great at pondering about on the ball without doing anything meaningful but we struggled to do that this game. In fact we struggled to much at all until the final quarter of the game. Sheffield were a perfect match for our chosen tactics today. They pressed high and played with real intensity. They took full advantage of their set pieces and were unlucky not to score 2 more minimum for free kicks positions. Our fouling played right into their hands today allowing them to control the pace of the game, taking breathers when needed and taking quick balls at the right time. This was in stark contrast to us, who for the most part, took quick free kicks in a seemingly desperate attempt to apply some pressure or attack on the break. In reality I think we would have been better off by stopping and evaluating our position more often, perhaps passing it back and trying to get back to our calm passing at the back.

Our defenders were all over the shop today. Easily led around by the Sheffield attackers. I think our man marking left us dragged about by some simple but effective passing (not to disrespect our opponents, what they did worked but wasn't difficult) Blackett in particular struggled in this regard, with the first goal being mostly his fault as his positional ill-discipline created as much space as Sheffield would ever need down the wing. This is probably because hes not a natural LB or even a natural FB/WB. I agree we should never have changed the defensive line-up from the previous match.

The midfield was isolated and I cant blame them for anything this game. JVDB was his usual over-enthusiastic self who I was surprised didn't get a second card after making 3(I think?) obvious fouls. Edwards was more isolated given his tactical instructions but was often chasing after the ball and trying to put in tackles. He looked frustrated through out and I believe I'm correct in saying he too often lost the ball after making a fair challenge.

Our front 3 may as well not have played for the first half. Barrow and Aluko are clearly very good players but the tactics did them no favours. I couldn't even take notes on them for the first half as they barely played. Not their fault as I said before, a lack of a link is our major issue here (hopefully solved by Swift and a formation change)

The last part of the second half we finally kicked it up a gear. The introduction of Swift made a hell of a difference. He created a different problem for the Sheffield defenders, in fact his introduction made it even more obvious that when we set up with a 5-3-3 we are easy to defend out of a game as there is only one attack to defend against.

The goal was taken well and for the 10ish minutes that followed it actually looked like we might get another goal (undeservedly) Clement in particular looked lively and desperate to win.

Mannone - 6 - Not good, not bad. One good save at close range but positionally was worrying a few times. His passing was standard.
Gunter - 5 - Maybe should consider switching flanks? Was often too central in defense.
Moore - 6 - Hard to think of anything he did wrong but equally hard to think of anything he did well.
Illori - 5 - Looked entirely disinterested at times. Lazy movement after a clearance while the ball was still in play.
Bacuna - ? - I couldn't quite tell what position he was playing and couldn't figure out what he was up to for long periods.
Blackett - 4 - Again better in attack than defense. Not something you want in a starting defender in a team struggling to win.
JVDB - 6 - Movement was more positive. I don't think his vision is great with many passes doing nothing for the team.
Edwards - 5 - Like a slightly worse Evans at the moment. Often hard to spot doing anything but necessary none the less.
Beerens - 6 - Took a shot from the distance in the first half and at least tried something to get a goal.
Barrow - 6 - Its hard to rank these guys higher despite the assist and the goal as the first half they were barely in the game. I like him.
Aluko - 5 - I'm marking him down because of how much he cost.

McShane - 4 - Not his fault he was the worst player to bring on. *Cough Richards Cough* Deserved yellow.
Swift - 7 - A player we have missed badly. Can see him leaving in January for a smaller fee than we would like to see. MOTM.
Clement - 6 - Shortish cameo but actually tried. something a lot of players haven't been doing.

Ref - Fook me this guy didn't like to let small fouls go. Made the awful football on display worse by penalising every tiny indiscretion.

DISCLAIMER
Yes Sheffield are in better form and I think most people would say were realistically likely to win anyway but much of my bitterness comes from how poorly we played. I honestly think that was the worst performance under Stam. It might not have had any stand out moments of awful but the whole thing left me so disinterested and depressed about the future of this team (that I have been genuinely excited about seeing progress) I would have more happily watched The Big Bang Theory.

blueroyals

» 21 Oct 2017 21:56

We always struggle against big, strong teams so the result was not a surprise for me

Performance was concerning but again if you don't play a striker you're not going to score goals? Feels like the season is a write off unless BT has something up his sleeve for Jan

NewCorkSeth

» 21 Oct 2017 22:06

Yeah.. Its not like Spain won the Euros with a false 9....

Queue everyone saying "we're not Spain"

I know we don't have the same quality players as Spain but we're not playing international quality teams. It's not an excuse. Playing tactics that require a striker while not having a striker on the pitch is an issue.

Royal_jimmy

» 21 Oct 2017 22:13

The reason why we've been struggling this season and why we were awful for 80 minutes today are so evident. We're playing a team with no balance in midfield and we signed 2 midfielders more than we needed. We're so much better in midfield with Swift, Kelly and Evans. Swift links into forward areas well. Evans breaks up play and Kelly is quick and mobile who plays good long balls forward. Maybe Van Den Berg, Swift and Edwards can work, time will tell but we looked far better when Swift was on.

We need to stop 5 at the back right now. It's negative and invites teams to come on to us. 5 at the back only works if our full backs are good at getting forward and although Blackett got good crosses in, he lacks pace. Stam has to return to a 4-3-3 vs Boro.

We've played so many different formations which means that we have players who don't know what they're doing. Aluko today in centre midfield i mean wtf? He's playing Grabbans old midfield role which clearly doesn't suit him. So Grabban plays up front for Sunderland and he's actually scoring! Wow.

The striker situation isn't great either. But why didn't Stam give Sam Smith a go? If Kermie or Bod aren't fit then Smith has to play. Even so, Stams naivety, stubbornness and arrogance is making me feel less like I won't care if he gets sacked

CountryRoyal

» 22 Oct 2017 03:33

FAO those bemoaning our away form.

We've won more games away than at home this season

God we're shit.

Sutekh

» 22 Oct 2017 07:38

Dont need to be a professional to know that plan A (i.e. dont play strikers but play a load of wingers) does not work and makes for nothing more than utterly pathetic football and zero threat. We all knew what to expect as soon as the lack of Bod was revealed yesterday.

Wonder if itll be the same next week or will there be an experienced striker available?

Royal_jimmy

» 22 Oct 2017 07:42

Don't get me started on home form!

Gobsheik

» 22 Oct 2017 08:00

The style of football that we play is not what is needed in the Championship. It is passionless, boring, predictable etc. Dutch football is on the decline. We were lucky last season to get where we did. Time for change before things get worse!

lightning strikes

» 22 Oct 2017 08:03

Yeah.. Its not like Spain won the Euros with a false 9....

Queue everyone saying "we're not Spain"

I know we don't have the same quality players as Spain but we're not playing international quality teams. It's not an excuse. Playing tactics that require a striker while not having a striker on the pitch is an issue.

Exactly, as I said in the match thread, we were excellent against Villa playing with a false nine.